Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Figrand Splendid’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of cut flower  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Figrand Splendid’, characterized by its upright growth habit; freely flowering habit; daisy-type inflorescences; attractive light red purple-colored ray florets; green-colored disc florets; response time about 50 days when grown at 18° C.; dark green-colored foliage; strong flowering stems and peduncles; and good postproduction longevity with inflorescences and foliage maintaining good substance and color for about two weeks in an interior environment.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Chrysanthemum×morifoliumcultivar Figrand Splendid.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of cutflower Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known asChrysanthemum×morifolium and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Figrand Splendid’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation ofChrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Figrand Pink, not patented. Thecultivar Figrand Splendid was discovered and selected by the Inventor asa single flowering plant within a population of plants of the cultivarFigrand Pink in a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands inMay, 2001. The selection of this plant was based on its uniqueinflorescence coloration.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by vegetative tip cuttingsin a controlled environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since August,2001, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum arestable and reproduced Figrand Splendid to type in successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Figrand Splendid have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Figrand Splendid’. Thesecharacteristics in combination distinguish ‘Figrand Splendid’ as a newand distinct cultivar:

1. Upright cut Chrysanthemum that is usually grown as a natural spray.

2. Freely flowering habit, about 15 inflorescences per flowering stem.

3. Daisy-type inflorescences.

4. Attractive light red purple-colored ray florets and green-coloreddisc florets.

5. Response time about 50 days when grown at 18° C.

6. Dark green-colored foliage.

7. Strong flowering stems and peduncles.

8. Good postproduction longevity with inflorescences and foliagemaintaining good substance and color for about two weeks in an interiorenvironment.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the parent,the cultivar Figrand Pink. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in DeLier, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differedprimarily from plants of the cultivar Figrand Pink in ray floretcoloration as plants of the cultivar Figrand Pink had lightpurple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Splendid Reagan, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 10,205. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier,The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants ofthe cultivar Splendid Reagan in the following characteristics:

1. Flowering stems of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were stronger thanflowering stems of plants of the cultivar Splendid Reagan.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller leaves than plants of thecultivar Splendid Reagan.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum flowered about four days earlier thanplants of the cultivar Splendid Reagan.

4. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more resistant to White Rustthan plants of the cultivar Splendid Reagan.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can also be compared to plants of theChrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Kingfisher, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 11,497. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in De Lier, TheNetherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of thecultivar Kingfisher in the following characteristics:

1. Flowering stems of plants of the new Chrysanthemum were stronger thanflowering stems of plants of the cultivar Kingfisher.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had smaller leaves than plants of thecultivar Kingfisher.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had larger inflorescences than plantsof the cultivar Kingfisher.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Chrysanthemum, showing the colors as reasonably possible toobtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographmay differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailedbotanical description which accurately describe the colors of the newChrysanthemum.

The photograph comprises a side perspective view of a typical floweringstem of ‘Figrand Splendid’ grown as a natural spray.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in De Lier, The Netherlands, underconditions which approximate commercial practice in a glass-coveredgreenhouse in June. Cuttings were planted in ground beds and receivedtwo weeks of long day/short nights followed by short day/long nightsuntil flowering. Plants were grown as single-stem natural spray cutChrysanthemums. During the production of the flowering plants, day andnight temperatures averaged 18.5° C. The photograph and botanicaldescription were taken about ten weeks after planting. In the followingdescription, color references are made to The Royal HorticulturalSociety Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar FigrandSplendid.

Commercial classification: Daisy-type cut flower Chrysanthemum.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Figrand Pink,not patented.

Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary Chrysanthemum×morifolium selectionidentified as code number 748A 1, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Vegetative tip cuttings.

Time to initiate roots.—Summer: About five days at temperatures of 20°C. Winter: About six days at temperatures of 20° C.

Time to produce a rooted young plant.—Summer: About 11 days attemperatures of 20° C. Winter: About 15 days at temperatures of 20° C.

Root description.—Fine, fibrous and white in color.

Rooting habit.—Freely branching.

Plant description:

Appearance/growth habit.—Herbaceous daisy-type cut flower that istypically grown as a natural spray. Narrow columnar; moderately vigorousto vigorous.

Flowering stem description.—Aspect: Erect. Length: About 78 cm. Diameter(natural spray diameter): About 21 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm. Internodelength: About 2.1 cm. Texture: Pubescent; longitudinally ridged.Strength: Strong. Color: Between 137C and 143A.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; single. Length: About 9.8cm. Width: About 6.4 cm. Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Margin:Palmately lobed; sinuses parallel to convergent. Texture, upper andlower surfaces: Sparsely pubescent; slightly rough. Color: Developingfoliage, upper surface: 137A. Developing foliage, lower surface: 137C to137D. Fully expanded, upper surface: Slightly darker than 137A. Fullyexpanded, lower surface: 137C. Venation, upper and lower surfaces: 138B.Petiole: Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Color, upper andlower surfaces: 137D.

Flowering description:

Appearance.—Daisy-type inflorescence form with obovate-shaped rayflorets. Inflorescences borne on terminals, arising from leaf axils.Disc and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower mid-Octoberto early November in The Netherlands. At other times of the year,inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under shortday/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plantsexposed to two weeks of long day/short night conditions after plantingfollowed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about50 days later when grown as a natural spray.

Postproduction longevity.—In an interior environment, inflorescences andfoliage will maintain good color and substance for about two weeks in aninterior environment.

Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit, about 15inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 6.7 cm. Depth (height): About 3.4cm. Disc diameter: About 1.8 cm. Receptacle diameter: About 2 cm.Receptacle height: About 7 mm.

Inflorescence buds.—Shape: Oblate. Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 8mm. Color: Between 137B and 143A.

Ray florets.—Shape: Obovate. Length: About 3.1 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm.Apex: Broadly acute. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Smooth, glabrous;longitudinally ridged. Aspect: Initially upright; when fully expandedhorizontal to about 20° from horizontal. Number of ray florets perinflorescence: About 24 arranged in three rows. Color: When opening,upper surface: 70A. When opening, lower surface: 76A. Fully opened,upper surface: Close to N74C to N74D. Fully opened, lower surface: 76Bto 77D.

Disc florets.—Arrangement: Massed at center of receptacle. Shape:Tubular, elongated. Apex: Five-pointed. Length: About 5.5 mm. Width:Apex: About 1.5 mm. Base: About 1 mm. Number of disc florets perinflorescence: About 200. Color: Immature: 150D; towards the apex, 150A.Mature: Apex: 151A to 151B. Mid-section and base: 150D.

Phyllaries.—Quantity per inflorescence: About 16. Length: About 1.1 cm.Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base: Broadly cuneate.Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Densely pubescent.Color, upper surface: 143A to 143B. Color, lower surface: Between 137Band 143A to 143B.

Peduncles.—Length: First peduncle: About 7.3 cm. Fourth peduncle: About11.1 cm. Seventh peduncle: About 13.2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm. Angle:About 35° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture: Densely pubescent.Color: 138A to 138B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anthercolor: 153B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 12A. Gynoecium:Present on both ray florets. Stigma color: 13A to 13B. Ovary color:145B.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have beenobserved to be resistant to White Rust. Resistance to other pathogensand pests common to Chrysanthemums has not been observed on plants grownunder commercial conditions.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have demonstratedgood tolerance to low temperatures of 10° C. and high temperatures of35° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of cut flowerChrysanthemum plant named ‘Figrand Splendid’, as illustrated anddescribed.